Sunday 11th November, on a mostly bright, Sunny day, would those who signed the Armistice 100 years ago have expected a group to find a War memorial to reflect for the 2 minute silence, then Cycle onward, yet 18 Cyclists, went via Cranes park, King Charles Bridge, Berrylands, New Malden, to pause at the ‘Malden & Coombe War Memorial, for the 2 minute silence, afterwards, Andrea read a few words from ‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:’, by Laurence Binyon , Lisa also reminded us that in modern Wars, it is the Civilian population that bears the brunt of hostilities, with that, we resumed our journey, via Motspur park, Cannon Hill, Morden, Merton park, South Wimbledon, Tooting, Tooting Bec Common, to Streatham Hill for lunch at ‘the Crown & Sceptre’, afterwards, finding a heavy Shower had dampened the Saddles, (I’m getting good at timing lunch to avoid the Rain, 😉 (see Midweek ride to Northolt)), Tulse Hill, Brockwell Park, to Brixton Windmill, Clapham park, Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, where Mags pointed out the location of the ‘Royal Victoria Patriotic Building , Earlsfield, to Wimbledon Park for Tea & Bread pudding, Wimbledon Village, CopseHill, Malden Golf course, Mount Pleasant, Norbiton to Kingston. Total 26 Miles, thanks to Andrea for Back marking duties, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Sunday 21st October. A Warm Sunny day saw 24 Cyclists, with 1 extra arriving just in time , so 25 left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, (with everyone following the leaders ‘Squeaky Brakes’, me thinks the Pads have reached the end of life), Hampton, Hanworth, Feltham, Bedfont, Stanwell, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, to Wraysbury for lunch at a very hospitable ‘Perseverance’, then Hythe end, Staines upon Thames, Thames Towpath, Penton Hook, Laleham, -with 3 of the group getting ahead of the Leader, staying with the Towpath & finding an alternative route to Tea-, Shepperton, Walton Bridge, to ‘Gino’s’ for Tea & BP, Walton on Thames, Walton Park, Esher, Weston Green, Giggs Hill Green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 31 Miles, 1 visit from the ‘P fairy’, 2 new Faces, thanks to Mike for Back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the Bread Pudding.

Footnote: A sandwich box was picked up at Lunch, if anyone wants to claim it, do let me know, by E mail rogerdodge59@gmail.com

Sunday 23rd September, Part 1. A very wet grey Morning saw just 2 brave or perhaps idiotic Cyclists, take the courageous decision to go for an extended Coffee break, as they locked the Bikes a 3rd Cyclist, belatedly arrived, (from South of the Borough), but the decision had been made, with the Skies lightening somewhat after an Hour, still with light Drizzle, the 3 set off via Cranes park, Berrylands, to New Malden for a very good lunch at Woodies, returning via Norbiton & Bonner Hill to Kingston. Sub total 6 Miles.

Bushy Park, with the Canal in the distance

Part 2 It could almost be a different world, with a bright, mostly Sunny afternoon, 9 fresh- fairweather– Cyclists joined the dampened flock, so 12 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton hill, Teddington, Teddington Lock footbridge, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond Park, White lodge to Roehampton gate Cafe, for Tea & BP, then Robin hood, Pen Ponds, Ham cross, Kingston gate, to Kingston. Sub total 14 Miles, Total 20 Miles, 3 new Faces, thanks to Jon W for Back marking, thanks to John D for the Bread pudding.

Sunday 9th September, a largely cloudy day, with some warming Sun, and a slight Headwind saw 22 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park- with 1 Stag trying unsuccessfully to cause a roadblock-, Hampton, Hanworth, Ashford, Staines-upon-Thames, Wraysbury, Datchett, Jubilee River Path to Eton for lunch at ‘the Watermans Arms’ just beating a group of Uxbridge Cyclist’s to the Bar, with 2 late starters & 1 other also tracking us down, also 1 of the morning party prefering to see the sights of Windsor, so 24 continued across Windsor Bridge, pausing briefly by Alexandra gardens to see one of Kingston’s finest exports, (a Hawker Hurricane, mounted in tribute to its designer, Sir Sidney Camm), Clewer Town, Ranger’s gate of Windsor Great Park, -with a strange rule that Cyclists must be in groups ‘no larger than six‘-, including the Village, Cumberland gate, Savill Garden, Totem pole & Virginia Water lake, then Virginia Water village, Lyne, St Anne’s Hill, Chertsey, Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton, to Halliford Garden Centre, just in time for Tea & BP, Lower Sunbury, Hampton Bushy Park, & Kingston Bridge. Total 44 Miles, thanks to Jon W for back marking & many others for corner marking, thanks to John D for the Bread Pudding.

Sunday 18th August a mostly grey, cloudy Morning, with a Sunnier Afternoon, saw 24 Cyclists leave via Skerne Rd, Kingston gate Richmond Park, With a few Rutting Stags, briefly delaying the tail end, White Lodge, to Sheen gate, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Chiswick, -with a delay whilst Chris tried unsuccessfully to catch an ‘escapee’,- Acton, North Ealing, Park Royal, then the Paddington arm of the Grand union Canal towpath, to Greenford for lunch at the Black Horse, – to find that the ‘Escapee’, had just beaten us-, 😉 with service a bit slow, because they were expecting around 200 for a Brazilian themed party & BBQ, but not many guests had appeared by the time of our departure, 😦 continuing along the Towpath to Southall, Southall Park, Norwood Green, to Osterley Park for Tea & BP, Osterley, Worton, Whitton, Fulwell, Bushy Park to Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Steve D for back marking & many others for marking corners, thanks to John for the Bread Pudding, thanks to Lars for the Photo’s.

Sunday 8th July, a hot & sultry sunny day saw 19 Cyclists ready to leave Woking Station, with a brief visit to the one way system, then St John’s, Basingstoke Canal towpath, (with lots of Tree cover helping to keep the Temperature bearable) , with 2 short bits of Road before rejoining the Towpath, Brookwood, Bisley, Donkey Town, Hook Mill, to Windlesham for a well earned lunch at ‘the Sun’- with the real thing continuing to shine from above and 1 person having a visit from the ‘P’ fairy-, then Valley end, Burrow hill, Chobham Common, Stonehill, Homewood Park, Addlestone, Victory Park, Hamm Moor, Weybridge, Broadwater Path, -with 1 person suffering some ‘Gravel rash’ after a slip-, to Walton Bridge for Tea & BP at Gino’s,- with our Leader suffering a visit from the ‘P’ fairy-, Walton on Thames, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd, & the newly extended Track to the Market Place. Total 32 Miles, 2 visit’s from the ‘P’ fairy, thanks to John E for back marking & many other corner markers, thanks also to John D for the Bread pudding, even though he couldn’t join us, (maybe still celebrating the Footie result).